World demand for flooring and carpets is expected to rise 4.9 per cent annually to 18.6 billion square metres in 2016. This will be an improvement from the rate during the 2006 - 2011 periods, as countries rebound from the 2008 global economic crisis. In value terms, demand for floor coverings is projected to advance 6.8 per cent per year to $270 billion. The primary driver of demand in developed areas will be rebounds in the residential construction markets of many countries .Residential buildings constitute the largest market for floor coverings, accounting for 59 per cent of sales in 2011. Nonresidential buildings made up 35 per cent of demand, with transportation and other markets representing the remaining six per cent. Through 2016, the fastest gains in demand are expected in the nonresidential buildings market, primarily due to a rebound in nonresidential construction expenditures in countries recovering from the 2008 global financial crisis and 2009 economic downturn. Demand growth in the transportation equipment and other market will see strong gains due to rising motor vehicle production, while demand in the residential building market will see similar growth because of rebounding housing markets in many countries.
